Hinged guard for drain pipe



April 23, 1963 H. J. COMPTON 3,086,655

HINGED GUARD FOR DRAIN PIPE Filed Aug. 1e. lseo /O 30 24 /9- ze 43 as 39 44 /4 :M-Nwer mwzw`wsrmw;

INVENTOR.

Mew/Py u. coMPro/v ATTORNEYS 3,9865 Patented Apr. 23, 1963 3,086,655 HINGED GUARD FOR DRAIN PHE Henry J. Compton, Casco, Mich. (RR. 2, South Haven, Mich.) Filed Aug. 16, 196), Ser. No. 49,949 6 Claims. (Cl. 210-153) This invention relates in general to a guard for the entrance to a passageway through a pipe and, more particularly, to a type of guard which is adapted for removable insertion into the exposed, open end of an outlet pipe for a system of drainage tiles, and which is arranged to prevent the entry of large objects into the passageway while permitting the discharge of such objects from the passageway.

It is essential in many regions, and particularly in those which experience the presence of large amounts of water, to provide underground drainage systems for removing the excess amounts of water. For example, such systems are often used to remove excess water from iields upon which agricultural crops are raised, and they are also used in drainage ditches which are provided for ood control. Obviously it is important that the outlet pipes from the drainage system remain unobstructed if they are to be of any benefit.

Heretofore, users and maintainers of such drainage ditches have encountered two principal sources of dithculty in preventing obstructions in such drainage systems and their outlet pipes. The first problem arises from the fact that small animals, such as rodents, will crawl into the drainage system through the unguarded outlet pipe and will either ll the tiles with foreign materials which obstruct the free flow of water through the system or the animals themselves will become lodged in the drainage system and create an obstruction. The other principal ditliculty arises from the use of certain types of existing guard structures in the outlet pipes.

It is well known that even the most effective guard structures can not prevent the entry of all small animals into the drain pipes without also obstructing the discharge of liquid from the system. Moreover, and more importantly, loose roots, branches and the like often get into the drainage system at some point upstream of the outlet opening. Unless some provision is made for permitting the discharge of such objects, they will pile up against the conventional guard structures and thereafter effectively block the passageway through the outlet pipe of the system. Thus, there has been a very pressing need Vfor an inexpensive, effective guard structure which can be easily placed within a drainage pipe and which is so constructed and arranged that it will eectively block the entry of undesirable objects and animals into the drainage pipe but, at the same time, will permit the discharge or escape of such articles and animals from the pipe when they are accidentally trapped on the upstream side thereof.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention has been the provision of an improved guard structure for the passageway through a drainage pipe whereby undesirable objects are effectively prevented from moving through such passageway in the upstream direction but which permits the downstream movement of such objects past the guard structure with a minimum of resistance therefrom.

A further object of this invention has been the provision of a guard structure, as aforesaid, which is extremely sturdy in construction, which exhibits a minimum of obstruction to the free ow of liquids and the free movements of small objects, such as dirt and leaves, through the passageway with said liquids, which contains a minimum of operating parts, which can -be easily installed either before or after the drainage system is in fully operative condition, which requires little or no maintenance during long periods of completely satisfactory operation, and which is so designed that its construction can be easily adapted to various sizes and shapes of drainage pipes.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will become apparent to persons familiar with this type of device upon reading the following descriptive material and examining the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a guard structure embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is au end 'elevational View of a length of drainage pipe with the guard structure of FIGURE 1 disposed therein.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View taken along the line III-III of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV--IV in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of said guard structure showing a position occupied by the parts thereof when they are being assembled.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a modified guard structure embodying the invention.

For convenience in description, the terms upper, lower, front and rear and derivatives thereof will have reference to the guard structure of the invention substantially as appearing in FIGURES 1, 2, and 6. The terms innen outer and words of similar import will have reference to the geometric center of the guard structure and the drainage pipe associated therewith.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The objects and purposes of this invention, including those set forth above, have been met by providing an improved guard structure preferably for the entry to the passageway through the outlet pipe of a drainage system. The improved guard, which is removably insertable into the outlet pipe, is comprised of a base member and a grill which is pivotally mounted upon the base member for movement into and out of a position transverse of said passageway. The base member and the grill are constructed so that the grill can be easily mounted upon and slidably removed from the base member when, but only when, the grill and the base member are substantially completely outside of the drainage pipe in which said guard is to be used.

Detailed Construction The guard It) (FIGURES 1 and 5), which has been selected to illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention, is comprised of a base member 411 upon which the grill 12 is mounted and pivotally supported prior to insertion of the guard into a drainage pipe, such as the pipe 13 shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. The base member 11 and the grill 12 are preferably fabricated from metal rod, but may be fabricated from other material, such as plastics, which are either tubular or solid. Moreover, said base member 11 and grill 12 may be formed from such materials by molding procedures.

The guard (FIGURES 2, 3 and 4) has been particularly designed for use in a substantially cylindrical pipe l13: which may be of a conventional type fabricated from sheet metal and defining a lengthwise passageway 16. In this particular embodiment, the pipe 13 has a plurality of uniformly arranged spiral corrugations 114 which produce intermittent ridges 17 and valleys 18 along any lengthwise or diametrical cross section thereof, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. It will become apparent, however, that the guard 10 will operate, with only minor modiiication of its support member ill, in drainage pipes of other cross-sectional shapes and configurations, including circular.

The base or support member 11 includes la U-shaped member 19 having a pair of legs 22 and 23 which are integral with and extend in substantially the same direction from Ia cross bar 24. The crossbar 24 is preferably substantially straight and the legs 22 and 23 are preferably curved so that they follow generally the shape of the interior of the pipe 13 adjacent to which they are closely disposed while lying substantially within .a plane perpendicular to the lengthwise extent of the pipe.

` A pair of substantially parallel, preferably similar, gripping ele-ments 27 and 28 are rigidly secured, between the ends of each, to the legs 22 and 23, respectively, preferably near or fat the free ends thereof, so that they extend in a direction approximately perpendicular to the said plane defined by the U-shaped member 19. The outer ends 29 land 38 of the gripping elements 27 and 28, respectively, are bent outwardly from the geometric center of the U-shaped member 19 so that they project sidewardly from the gripping elements a distance about equal to the depth of the valleys 18, into which they are slidably received. The grippingwelements 27 and 28 are parallel with the lengthwise axis of the pipe 13 when the plane defined by said U-shaped member 19 is substantially perpendicular to said lengthwise axis.

In this particular embodiment, as shown in FIGURE 4, the ridges 17 and valleys 18 of the pipe 13 are so arranged that it is necessary to offset the gripping elements 27 and 28 with respect to each other lengthwise of the pipe 13L so that the ends 29 and 30 will simultaneously be received into said valleys 18, for the purpose of positively preventing accidental lengthwise movement of the support member 11 with respect to the pipe 13 in which it is dis-v posed. Thus, in this instance, the precise location of the bent ends 29 and 30 with respect to each other and the member 19 will depend directly upon the configuration of the internal surface of the pipe 13 and the location of the element-s 27 and 28. Where a smooth bore pipe is involved, the shape and location of the ends 29 and 30 becomes of less importance, but can notbe ignored. More specically, it may be unnecessary to bend the ends of the elements, and the ends do not have to be located in particular relative positions. However, it is clearly preferable, if not e-ssential, that at least one of the elements 27 and 28 lbe secured to the member 19 so that it extends substantially beyond both sides of the plane delined by the member 19. Moreover, the elements should be located on the legs 22 `and 23 so that they will be on the opposite side of a diameter of the pipe parallel with the crossbar 24 when the base member 11 is in the pipe. Both of these requirements are needed to prevent undesirable movement of the guard in the pipe.

The grill 12 (FIGURES l, 2. and 5) is comprised of a plurality, here four, of substantially parallel rods 33, 34, 35 and 36 are connected together by 'a cross rod 37 f so that they are substantially uniformly spaced and lie substantially within a single plane. The upper ends of the two central rods 34 and 35 are curved to lform hooks 38 and 39 which are loosely engageable with the crossbar 24 on the base member 11. The outer rods 33- and 36 have upward extensions 43 and 44 which project beneath the crossbar 24 when said hooks 38 and 39 extend around the upper side thereof. The hooks 38 and 39 and extensions 43 and 44 are so far-ranged that, when the grill 12 is substantially in the position of FIGURE 5, it can be slid sidewardly with respect to the base member 11 vand olf of the crossbar 24. However, when the grill is in any position spaced substantially from its FIGURES position with respect to the base member 11, such sideward sliding is obstructed by either the extensions 43 and 44 or the hooks 38 and 39, thereby positively preventing iaccidental disengagement between said base member and grill, particularly when they are in their FIGURE l, normal operating positions within a pipe. The lower ends of the central rods 34 and 35 (FIGURE 1) are turned upward slightly and the lower ends of the outer rods 33 and 36 are turned inward slightly. The rod-s 33 through 36, inclusive, are of such length, as shown in FIGURE 3, they will rest upon the lower portion of the wall delining the passageway 16 through the pipe 13 when the base member 11 is tightly disposed within the pipe 13 and said rods are at an angle of approximately 45 to the lengthwise extent of said pipe. Moreover, when the base member 11 is within a pipe, at least one portion of the U-shaped member 19, prefer-'ably adjacent an end of the crossbar 24, is snugly against the adjacent part the pipe 13. Under normal circumstances two spaced portions of said member 19 vat opposite ends of the crossbar 24 will bear against said pipe 13.

Operation The guard 10 is constructed in two separable parts, i.e. the base member 11 and grill 12, which are easily and quickly assembled before the guard 10 is inserted into the passageway 16 dened by the pipe 13. A protective coatl ing, such as plaint or plating is preferably and advantageously applied to the base member 11 and grill 12 when they are separated. This prevents a defective coating or a binding action in the region of the hinge between these parts. Moreover, the base members 11 and grills 1 2 can, yafter manu'acture, be stacked separately -for economical packaging and shipment. l

In assembly, the grill 12 is placed in a position with respect to the base member 11 so that the grill 12 and U-shaped member 19 are substantially coplanar. One of the extensions 43 and 44, here the extension 43- (FIG- URE 5), is placed against the crossbar 24 near one end thereof, after which the hook 38 is then caused to embrace said lcrossbar 24 near one end thereof. The grill 12 is then moved lengthwise of the crossbar 24 until the hook 39 passes the leg 23y and can be moved slightly up4 wardly into engagement with the crossbar 24. Further, leftward movement of the grill, as appearing in FIGURE 5, will cause the extension 44 to overlap the crossbar 24. With the hooks 38 and 39 and the extensions 43 and 44 in these positions, the extensions 43 and 44 being adjacent to and between the legs 22 tand 23, the grill 12 is pivoted around the crossbar 24 away from its FIGURE 5 position so that it cannot lbe removed Afrom the crossbar 12 by either radial or axial movement with respect to said crossbar. That is, the disengagement of the `grill 12 from the crossbar 24 can only be accompli-shed by returning it to its FIGURE 5 position and then moving it with respect to the support member `11 in 1a direction substantially parallel with the crossbar 24.

With the grill 12 in the position of FIGURE 1 Withrespect to the support member 11, the rearward ends of the `gripping element-s 27 and 28 `are inserted into one end of the passageway 16 `defined by the pipe 13. When a portion of the U-shaped member 19' engages the wlall of the pipe 13, the entire guard 10 is rotated around the axis of the passageway 16. Because the ends 29 and 30 of the gripping elements 27 land 28 and portions of the member 19 are disposed within the valleys 18 produced by the spiral corrugations 1.4, rotation of the guard 10 causes it to move along the passageway 16 until it is completely disposed therein.

When the guard 10 has reached the desired location within the passageway 16, it is immediately ready for use. As shown in FIGURE 2, the grill 12 effectively blocks the movement of objects past the guard 10 through the passageway 16 in an upstream direction. However, the grill 12 can pivot upwardly to a raised position, indicated at 12a in FIGURE 3, to permit the 'downstream movement of objects through the pipe 13, whereby -said objects can be discharged from the pipe so that they Will not lodge against the guard 10 and obstruct the -free passage of fluids through the pipe. The guard 10 is preferably disposed within the pipe 13, after the insertion is completed,

so that the grill 12 does not project lwhen it is in its position 12a of FIGURE 3. Thus, the guard 10 is completely protected by the pipe 13 during shipment and use.

Because of the hinged connection between the base member 11 and grill 12, the guard 16 fwill continue to permit the downstream movement of undesirable objects, even though the pipe may become partially l'led with dirt and similar trash. Further, the guard will also continue to block upstream movement of animals and the like under these conditions. In existing guards for this purpose a small accumulation of trash or the like on the upstream side of the guard will result in an accelerated build-up of objects which will soon block the pipe substantially completely.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a guard 50 having a modied construction adapted for use in a pipe, such as the pipe 13 of FGURE 2, which is of somewhat larger diameter than the pipe in which the guard 10 is used. The base member 51 differs from the base member 11 primarily in size. The grill 52 differs from the grill 12 by having two additional, centrally disposed rods '53 and 54. The rods 34a and 35a may be substantially the same as the rods 34 and 35, rwpectively, in .the grill 12. The outer rods `56 and 57 are bowed slightly outwardly to provide additional blocking, but in all other respects are substantially identical to the rods 33 and 36, respectively, of the grill 12. The crossbar 37a is supplemented by a further crossbar 5S for additional st-rength. Assembly of the grill 52 upon the base member 51, or disassembly, may be accomplished substantially as set forth above with respect to the grill 11 and ybase member 12 of the guard 10.

It will be seen that by similar, minor modications in the size of the base member 11 and/or the number of rods in .the grill 12, the guard 10 or the modiied guard 59 can be adapted for use in pipes having a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Moreover, the size of objects obstructed by the guard 10 can be increased or decreased simply by changing the number of rods in the grill and, at the same time, changing their spacing.

It will be recognized that the guard 10, or the modified guard 5u, can be used in a straight bore pipe, not shown, of a substantially conventional type. In such case, the mere frictional engagement between the wall defining the passageway through the pipe and the portions of the support member engaged therewith will provide the holding of the guard within the pipe. Such gripping in -a smooth bore pipe can be augmented by having the legs of the support member such as the legs 22 and 23 of member 19 (FIGURE 2), sprung slightly outwardly so that they 'will be held under compression when they are disposed Within the pipe. Under such circumstances, it may be unnecessary to have the ends of the gripping elements 27 and 23 bent outwardly. It will be noted, particularly in FIG- URE 4, that the gripping elements 27 and 28 `are engaged by the legs 22 and 23 at points on said gripping elements unequally spaced from their respective ends. This provides for .the proper location of the bent ends 29 and 36 for simultaneous reception into the ridges 17 in the valleys 18 of the spiral corrugations 14. Where a smooth bore pipe is utilized, this special arrangement can be omitted. Where -a pipe having circular corrugations is used, then it may be advantageous to have the bent end portions 29 and 36 located diametrically across from each other.

From the above description, it will be apparent that other modifications may be made in the guard 10, or the modified guard Sti, while still retaining the fundamental elements of the invention. Accordingly, although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail above for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that variations or modiiications of such disclosures, Which lie within the scope of the appended claims are fully contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. A guard structure for the vlengthwise passageway in `a corrugated pipe of substantially circular cross section, comprising:

wall means defining the passageway in the pipe, said wall means having a plurality of adjacent similar and substantially annular recesses communicating with said passageway;

a substantially U-shaped member having a pair of legs and a horizontal connecting bar substantially defining a rst plane;

a pair of elongated elements secured to said legs at points thereon spaced substantially from the connecting bar and extending transversely therefrom, at least one of said elements extending through said plane, said elements and said U-shaped member having portions simultaneously receivable into said recesses for firmly holding said U-shaped member within said pipe in an inverted position 'with the connecting bar Iat the top thereof when said plane is, substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise extent of the passageway;

a grill having a plurality of elongated, spaced elements and means rigidly holding said elements together and substantially within a second plane;

means pivotally supporting said grill upon the connecting bar of said U-shaped member between the legs -thereof lfor movement around one axis Alying substantially within said first and second planes, whereby said grill is movable into and out of a position blocking said passageway when said U-shaped member is firmly held therein.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said legs are adjacent said pipe;

wherein said elongated elements are substantially parallel and the ends thereof 'are bent away from the geometric center of the lU-shaped member to form said portions receivable into said recesses, the bent portions on at least one of said elements being unequally spaced from said first plane.

3. The structure of claim v1 wherein said grill has a crossbar and at least four rods rigidly secured to said crossbar in spaced relationship; and

wherein said means supporting said grill on said connecting bar includes a pair of spaced hooks secured to said grill, said hooks extending around one side of said connecting bar and partially around the other side of said bight, and means extending from said grill across said connecting bar on said other side thereof, whereby said grill is positively held against radial disengagement from said connecting bar.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said recesses is part of a spiral groove in the wall of the pipe dening the passageway; and

wherein -the portions of the elements and the U-shaped member receivable into said recesses lie substantially lalong the periphery of a cylinder having substantially the same diameter as one of said annular recesses.

5. A guard structure for the lengthwise passageway in a pipe of substantially circular cross section, comprising:

wall means defining the passageway in the pipe;

ya substantially U-shaped member having a pair of legs and a horizon-tal connecting bar lying substantially within a lrst plane;

a pair of elongated elements secured to said legs near the free ends thereof and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said plane, at least one of said elements extending through said plane, said elongated elements having end portions and said U-shaped member having edge portions, said end and edge portions being simultaneously engageable with said wall means, whereby said U-shaped member is firmly held in said pipe with the connecting bar at the top thereof when said plane is substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise extent of the passageway;

ya grill having a plurality of elongated, spaced rod elements land means rigidly holding said rod elements with respect to each other and substantially within a second plane, said rod elements being substantially parallel and a rst pair of rod elements having integral extensions projecting transversely yacross one side of said connecting bar, and a second pair of rod elements respectively adjacent said rst pai-r of rod elements -and having integral hooks curving around the other side yof said connecting bar, said grill being pivotally supported by said hooks and said extensions upon said connecting bar, whereby said grill can be removed from said-U-shaped member only in a direction substantially parallel With said bar when, and only when, said grill is substantially within said rst plane and 0n the opposite side of said bar from said legs.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein said elongated elements are substantially parallel and the ends thereof are bent away from the geometric center of the U-shaped member for reception into said recesses, the bent ends on one `of said elements being unequally spaced from the frirst plane; wherein said rods in said grill are substantially parallel and the outermost rods have integral extensions projecting transversely across one side of said bar; and 'wherein two of said rods between said outermost rods have integral hooks curving around the other side of said bar, said hooks and said extensions comprising the supporting means on said grill and being arranged whereby said grill can be lremoved from said U-shaped member only in a ydirection parallel with said bar when, `and only when, said grill is substantially Within said rst plane and extending `from said bar in the Opposite direction from said legs.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 364,823 lIngold June 14, 1887 906,562 Rue et al. Dec. 15, 1908 1,397,471 Walker Nov. 15, 1921 2,647,636 Rafferty Aug. 4, 1953 

5. A GUARD STRUCTURE FOR THE LENGTHWISE PASSAGEWAY IN A PIPE OF SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION, COMPRISING: WALL MEANS DEFINING THE PASSAGEWAY IN THE PIPE; A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF LEGS AND A HORIZONTAL CONNECTING BAR LYING SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN A FIRST PLANE; A PAIR OF ELONGATED ELEMENTS SECURED TO SAID LEGS NEAR THE FREE ENDS THEREOF AND EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PLANE, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID PLANE, SAID ELONGATED ELEMENTS HAVING END PORTIONS AND SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING EDGE PORTIONS, SAID END AND EDGE PORTIONS BEING SIMULTANEOUSLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID WALL MEANS, WHEREBY SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER IS FIRMLY HELD IN SAID PIPE WITH THE CONNECTING BAR AT THE TOP THEREOF WHEN SAID PLANE IS SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE LENGTHWISE EXTENT OF THE PASSAGEWAY; A GRILL HAVING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED, SPACED ROD ELEMENTS AND MEANS RIGIDLY HOLDING SAID ROD ELEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER AND SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN A SECOND PLANE, SAID ROD ELEMENTS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL AND A FIRST PAIR OF ROD ELEMENTS HAVING INTEGRAL EXTENSIONS PROJECTING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS ONE SIDE OF SAID CONNECTING BAR, AND A SECOND PAIR OF ROD ELEMENTS RESPECTIVELY ADJACENT SAID FIRST PAIR OF ROD ELEMENTS AND HAVING INTEGRAL HOOKS CURVING AROUND THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID CONNECTING BAR, SAID GRILL BEING PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY SAID HOOKS AND SAID EXTENSIONS UPON SAID CONNECTING BAR, WHEREBY SAID GRILL CAN BE REMOVED FROM SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER ONLY IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID BAR WHEN, AND ONLY WHEN, SAID GRILL IS SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN SAID FIRST PLANE AND ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID BAR FROM SAID LEGS. 